Apple Fritter Cake {Apple Fritter Week!!}

Let’s talk Say Yes to the Dress for a second.

It’s a lot like House Hunters, which we know I can’t stand.

If you haven’t seen it, it’s a show on TLC where women go into the world-famous wedding dress salon, Kleinfeld’s, in NYC and basically put the salon associates through the ringer with their outlandish requests, diva behavior, and psychotic entourages of family members.

Women come in with the craziest of expectations on their “Perfect Dress List”, similar to how people act on House Hunters with their mile-long, contradictory fest of their “Perfect Home.” (I want a mansion in the city, but I don’t want the noise from traffic. Oh my god, this Italian villa kitchen is so small! Where are we supposed to fit our SubZero appliances, honey? How come this Italian villa kitchen doesn’t look like an American kitchen?!) etc.

So the women come in wanting a dress with a train but not too long of a train, a sweetheart bust but not something super busty, a small-potatoes budget but let’s try on a Pnina gown, and so forth. Or they’ll bring in some Pinterest picture of a gown and insist they have to try on that gown and make the associates go through a goose chase to hunt down this hideous lace number that’s thousands out of their budget and looks like something you could get at David’s Bridal for like, half the cost.

And what’s with those brides who are hell-bent on looking “sexy” for their wedding day? I get it, you want to look beautiful – of course! – and it’s your day to shine. But insisting on a sheer corset bust blinged out with diamonds all up and down your belly? Um, not cute honey. Save that for the honeymoon, not for when dad walks you down the aisle. If you’re looking for sexy bride, save your money and hit up Frederick’s, buy one of their furry teddies, and head down the aisle in that. As far as I’m concerned, those dresses with the lingerie-looking tops but full trains look like mullet wedding gowns. Trashy, cheap lady of the evening up top, ballgown Cinderella on the bottom. NOT. CUTE.

As it stands I’m actually in NYC again at the moment and would love the chance to wander through Kleinfeld’s, trying on dresses and pretending I’m getting engaged and not a single, twenty-something loner who failed at online dating. But alas, I don’t have a huge budget and with the amount of crazy that happens in that store on a regular basis, I’d probably just smother myself with some tulle.

Anywho. While I’m in NYC I’ve been dreaming of this Apple Fritter Cake. It’s seriously one of my new favorites because it tastes like a gigantic, soft and tender apple fritter! I love making this in the bundt pan because it allows that rich, apple-cider laced glaze to seep into all the nooks and crannies of the cake, as well as down the center of the bundt. When the glaze cracks and hardens, it’s SO delicious and really reminiscent of a freshly fried and glazed apple fritter. YUM.

And hey, if no one ends up marrying me, I’ll just marry this cake. I’ll skip the dress but uh, just give us some privacy, would ya?

*adapted from The Cake Mix Doctor’s Cinnamon Breakfast Cake

Print Recipe

4.75 from 4 votes

Apple Fritter Cake {Apple Fritter Week!!}

Soft, moist and tender, this cake is perfect to serve up to guests during the cooler temperatures. It tastes like a giant, freshly glazed apple fritter without all the hard work and fuss of frying.

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time1 hr

Total Time1 hr 15 mins

Course: Cakes/Cupcakes

Servings: 16

Author: Hayley Parker, The Domestic Rebel

Ingredients

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 pkg 3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding mix
• 3/4 cup oil
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp cinnamon divided
• Pinch nutmeg
• Pinch cloves
• 3 medium apples peeled, cored, and chopped into bite-sized pieces (I used Granny Smith)
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1 & 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2-3 Tbsp apple cider
• 1 tsp hot water

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Liberally grease a standard bundt pan with cooking spray and set aside. Meanwhile, preheat a medium skillet over medium-heat.
• Throw the butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar, one (1) tsp of the cinnamon and the apples into the skillet and saute until tender but not too soft, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat the cake mix, pudding mix, oil, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla and remaining teaspoon of cinnamon with a handheld electric mixer until combined. Batter will be thick. Spread HALF of the batter into the prepared pan. Layer the apples evenly on top of the batter layer, including the juices from the apples in the skillet. Sprinkle the apples evenly with the remaining cup of brown sugar. Top with the remaining batter.
• Bake for approx. 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 30 minutes, then very carefully invert it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• Once cake has cooled, prepare your glaze: in a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, apple cider and water until you've reached a pourable consistency. Pour the glaze over top of the cake and let it set, about 15 minutes, before cutting into slices.

Gotta love that glaze! It’s so thick and crunchy and pairs perfectly with the softness of the cake’s crumbs and the bits of apple studded within. I’m in love!

I’ve been LOVING #AppleFritterWeek, and I hope you have also! Stay tuned for one more recipe for Apple Fritter Week!!

Have a great day!!

xo, Hayley